Sweat band for hats



May 24, 1938. s. ADAMSON 2,118,583

SWEAT BAND FOR HATS Filed June 26, 1935 INVENTOIZ. Z J Jm/ AMA/MN ATTORNEY.

Patented May 24, 1938 NE TED "STATES PAT- N T OFFICE SWEAT BANDFOR HATS *Application June-26, 1935, Serial No.28,401-

3 Claims.

Thisinvention relates to sweat bands for hats "of" the type having a crown and brim.

Sweat bandsfor hats have commonly been 'made' heretofore of leather by cutting from "leather stock a strip long enough to extend around the periphery of the head opening of the'hat and 'Wide enough to provide a wide comfortable bearing surface for the head of the wearer. These leather strips or sweat bands are usually cutwith afislight longitudinal curvature to cause them to conform to the shape of the head when secured in a hat.

While leather sweat bands provide a soft, smooth surface that is comfortable to the head, leather is non-elastic and is, therefore, incapable ofstretching and contracting sufficiently to ac- 'commodate several different head sizes. Furthermore, leather is substantially impervious to air so that when a leather sweat band rests firmly against a persons forehead it excludesthe air therefrom.

*Thepresent invention contemplates an elastic textile band which mayhave'substantially the same size and shape as the leather sweat bands e'mployed heretoforaand is adapted to be sewill contractandexpand to fit heads of different sizes.

Such a sweat band is preferably formed of fine elastic strands which will exert a relatively slight contractive force about the head so that it will fit snugly about the head without exerting an uncomfortable gripping pressure thereupon, and the elastic band should have a relatively fine weave to present a smooth, comfortable surface to the head.

The elastic sweat band of the present invention will cause the hat in which it is used to fit two or more different head sizes, thus materially reducing the number of diiferent hat sizes it is necessary to manufacture and carry in stock. Furthermore, the elastic band of the present invention is porous and will permit a much better circulation of air through it than through the leather sweat bands.

As above stated, leather sweat bands are commonly cut so as to give them a slight longitudinal curvature to improve their fit at the front, rear and sides of the hat. This curvature is quite noticeable at the central portion of the band which engages the forehead and at the back of the head but is very slight at the sides of the head. The present invention further contemplates an elastic band which is Woven with a curvilinear set to impart to it a contour-similar to that given heretofore to leather sweat bands. That isfthe elastic sweat band'is preferably'so woven thatit has a readily noticeable curvature at the portions thereof whichare'secured at the '5 front and rear of the hat and a very slight curvatrue at each-side of the hat.

A" further feature of the present invention resides in an elastic sweat band havingan inelastic marginal portion provided along one'edge tore-10 'ceive the binding stitches that secure'the band in place in the hat, and still a further feature resides in an elastic sweat band having either its thickness or itselastic contractive force increased neai' said securing'means to providethe 'bandls with acu'shion area extending lengthwise thereof.

Theaboveand other features of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating goodpractical forms thereof.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a felt hat of the fedora type provided with theelastic' sweat band of" the present invention; V

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the elastic sweat band before it is sewed in a hat;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section'through one side of the hat of Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 but shows a modified sweat band construction.

The elastic sweat band of the present invention may be used in felt hats, derbys, straw hats and other types of hats having a crown and brim. The felt hat shown has the crown l and brim 2, and the elastic sweat band 3, preferably is shaped similarly to the usual leather sweat band and is sewed in the hat to extend entirely around the periphery of the head opening, as will be apparent from Fig. 1.

The elastic band 3 is preferably formed of nonelastic wefts and elastic and non-elastic warps, and while various small elastic strands 4 may be employed in the band 3, small elastic yarns formed by winding yarn about an elastic core of grainless rubber as disclosed in the Adamson Patent No. 1,822,847 granted September 8, 1931 is well adapted for use in producing an elastic band that is more than an inch wide and will stretch under a slight force to accommodate different size heads without exerting a sufficient contractive pressure about the head to be uncomfortable.

The band 3 is preferably woven in about 24 inch lengths, which is long enough to extend entirely around the periphery of the head opening of most hats, and is preferably so woven that it has the permanent curvilinear set shown in Fig. 2. That is, the central portion 5 of the band which goes around the forehead has a readily observable curvature and the band preferably has a similar curvature adjacent its ends 6, while the portions of the band that extend along each side of the hat are nearly straight, as will be apparent from Fig. 2.

The elastic strip 3 is shown as provided along one edge with a marginal portion 1 from which the elastic strands 4 are omitted. This nonelastic selvage is about of an inch wide this being the approximate width of the stitches employed in sewing the non-elastic selvage to the hat at the juncture of the crown l and brim 2. The elastic strip 3 is woven in the extended position so that when the strip is allowed to contract under the action of the stretched strands 4 the non-elastic margin 1 will be puckered slightly. Since the band 3 will never stretch very much in the hat it need not have more than a 10 or 15% stretch from its relaxed position.

The elastic sweat band 3 is secured around the periphery of the head opening of the hat by a row of stitches 8 that pass through the nonelastic portion 1 of the sweat band and into the hat structure as shown, much the same as in the ordinary leather sweat band.

It may be desirable to increase the head-gripping action of the band 3 adjacent the nonelastic area I and this is accomplished in the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 by providing a few additional elastic strands 9 which are woven upon the inner face of the elastic band to give the band a cushion effect or increase headengaging action at this point. This same object is secured in the modified construction of Fig. 4 by omitting the non-elastic area of Fig. 3 and folding an elastic edge portion ID of the band over, as shown, to increase the thickness and elastic strength near the row of securing stitches, as shown.

In order to prevent perspiration from penetrating through the sweat band into the wall of the hat, the band 3 may be treated with any suitable penetrating or coating material that will render the band less absorbent.

It will be seen from the foregoing that an elastic sweat band such as herein contemplated will readily contract and expand to adjust itself to the head of the wearer and that it will retain the hat securely in place upon the head of the wearer without exerting an uncomfortable binding pressure about the head. Furthermore, the contraction and expansion of the sweat band will cause the hat provided with such a sweat band to fit difierent head sizes.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a hat having a crown and brim that encircle the head opening, a woven elastic band of sufiicient length and Width to form an elastic sweat band that extends around the perimeter of the head opening, said band being so woven as to have a lengthwise curvature and a convex and concave edge at the front of the hat, and means for securing said concave edge to the front of the hat at the juncture of the crown and brim so that the band will lie close to the side walls of the hat.

2. In a hat having a crown and brim that encircle the head opening, a woven elastic band of suflicient length and width to form an elastic sweat band that extends around the perimeter of the head opening, said band having elastic strands extending lengthwise thereof and being so woven as to have a curve at the front and rear of the hat and a convex and concave edge, and means for securing said concave edge to the hat at the juncture of the crown and brim so that the band will lie close to the side walls of the hat.

3. In a hat having a crown and brim that encircle the head opening, a woven elastic band of sufficient length and width to form an elastic sweat band that extends around the perimeter of the head opening, said band having elastic strands extending lengthwise thereof and being so woven as to have a curve at the front and rear of the hat and a convex and concave edge and a marginal portion along the concave edge from which the elastic strands are omitted, and means for securing said marginal portion along the concave edge to the hat at the junction of the crown and brim so that the band will lie close to the side walls of the hat.

SETH ADAMSON. 

